Ears and Hearing

Learning to listen is tough for kids. Using a puppet helps hold their attention and keeps them focused on the game.

Objectives

Children ages 3-4 can identify actions in pictures Lang. IB
ages 2 ½-3 can recognize gross sounds in environment and identify objects that made the sounds Lang. IA
ages 2-2 ½ can associate body parts with their functions such as hearing and ears Lang. IIIA
and they can name several common objects Lang. IB

 
 
 

Materials

Froggie puppet (or other puppet character); large model or picture of ear; objects which make noises, e.g., paper to crumple, telephone to dial, drum, zipper, cups, bell, scissors, paper to tear, horn, etc.

Procedures

1. Froggie appears and tells the children that he has found something. He lugs the model up (or picture) of the ear and asks them if they know what it is. Froggie should act surprised and ask questions: "What is it? What does it do? How many do you have?"

2. Froggie then tells the children he is hoping to find out if they are right about hearing with their ears. "I'll make a noise behind the screen. See if you can hear it and guess what it is by listening." Froggie then disappears, makes a noise (e.g., rings a bell), and pops back out to ask if children heard the sound. "What was it?" When children identify the sound, Froggie brings out the object(s) and, making the sound again, lets the children watch the object. Repeat, using a variety of sounds.